Chili Seasoning Mix... from scratch!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 Tbs chili powder

2 Tbs crushed red pepper

2 Tbs dry, minced onion

2 Tbs dry, minced garlic

2 tsp ground cumin

1 Tbs parsley

2 tsp salt

2 tsp basil

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 Tbs ground red cayenne pepper (optional...we like spice!)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container.  Put lid on and shake well.

Here is a picture of my fancy container!

To make chili....

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

2 Tbs Chili Seasoning Mix (above)

16 oz. tomato sauce OR 14 oz. diced tomatoes

1 can dark kidney beans

Directions:

1.  Brown ground beef until no longer pink.

2.  Add 2 Tbs chili seasoning mix per pound.

3.  Add 16 oz. tomato sauce OR 14 oz. diced tomatoes per pound

4.  Rinse canned kidney beans; add to chili.

5.  Mix well; simmer for 10 minutes.

6.  Serve with shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese and crackers.

7.  Enjoy!

Notes:

1.  I also make this in the crock pot.  I brown the ground beef and then add all ingredients EXCEPT the kidney beans to the slow cooker.  Cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.  Add the kidney beans during the last 15 minutes of cooking.

2.  This freezes well!  Make as above; let cool.  Spoon into quart-size freezer bags.  When closing, try to get as much air out of it as possible.  Place bags in refrigerator to get cold, then place in freezer.  By freezing it this way, you can thaw it quickly for a simple dinner or chili dogs!

This post may be linked to: Tasty Tuesday Link Party This Week's Cravings Hunk of Meat Monday Delectable Tuesday Totally Tasty Tuesday Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays Tasty Tuesdays Tuesdays at the Table Hearth and Soul Hop Tasty Tuesday Tuesday Night Supper Club Slightly Indulgent Tuesday Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday What's Cooking Wednesday What's for Dinner? Foodie Wednesday Real Food Wednesday What's On the Menu Wednesday What's Cooking Wednesday Full Plate Thursday Fun with Food Friday Tuesday Tantalizing Taste Sweets for a Saturday What's Cooking Wednesday What's on Your Plate? Recipes I Can't Wait to Try No Whine Wednesday Savory Sundays This Chick Cooks Simply Delish Saturdays Recipe Sharing Mondays Fat Camp Friday Whisking Wednesdays What's Cooking Wednesday Cooking Thursday It's a Keeper Ultimate Recipe Swap Twisted Thursday Mangia Mondays   Makin' You Crave Monday   Melt in Your Mouth Monday   Friday Favorites   Family Food Friday   Foodie Friday   Friday Potluck   GCC Recipe Swap   I'm Lovin' It   Taste-tastic Thursday

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Blessings,

     Ellen

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Ingredients:

3 1/2 Tbs chili powder
4 1/2 tsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
3 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder

3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust your level of heat!)

Directions for seasoning mix:

1)  Mix and store in an airtight container.

Directions for making taco meat:

1)  Brown 1 pound ground beef until no longer pink.

2)  Drain fat.

3)  Add 1-2 TBS homemade seasoning, to taste.

4)  Add 1/4 cup water.

5)  Mix thoroughly; simmer for 5 minutes.

6)  Enjoy!

Note:  This is a great freezer recipe.  Make your taco meat following the above recipe; let cool.  Transfer into quart-size freezer bags.  Remove as much air as possible.  Freeze!  These packets can be thawed quickly for an easy lunch or quick dinner!

This post may be linked to: Tasty Tuesday Link Party This Week's Cravings Hunk of Meat Monday Delectable Tuesday Totally Tasty Tuesday Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays Tasty Tuesdays Tuesdays at the Table Hearth and Soul Hop Tasty Tuesday Tuesday Night Supper Club Slightly Indulgent Tuesday Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday What's Cooking Wednesday What's for Dinner? Foodie Wednesday Real Food Wednesday What's On the Menu Wednesday What's Cooking Wednesday Full Plate Thursday Fun with Food Friday Tuesday Tantalizing Taste Sweets for a Saturday What's Cooking Wednesday What's on Your Plate? Recipes I Can't Wait to Try No Whine Wednesday Savory Sundays This Chick Cooks Simply Delish Saturdays Recipe Sharing Mondays Fat Camp Friday Whisking Wednesdays What's Cooking Wednesday Cooking Thursday It's a Keeper Ultimate Recipe Swap

Blessings,

     Ellen

Fresh Basil

Thanks to a very dear friend, Michelle, I have learned to not only grow my own basil, but dry it for later use.  If I can do this, anyone can!

First, grow basil in a pot (like below) or in your garden.

 Next, pick the basil leaves off the plant, rinse them off, and pat dry.

 Arrange the dried leaves on a paper plate or or paper towel.  Cover with a dry paper towel.

 Microwave on HIGH 30 seconds.  Check their progress.  Microwave for another 30 seconds until the leaves are dried out and crunchy.  This usually takes me 1-1 1/2 minutes.

 When the leaves are dry, they will look like this.

 Using your fingers, crush the leaves like below.  If you have any large stems, remove them from the pile.

 Store in an air-tight jar for later use.  I am recycling a store-bought container.  I just changed the name to "Mom's Basil."

 Cool shot, huh!?!?!  Use in recipes just like you do store-bought seasoning.

Enjoy!

Blessings,

     Ellen

This post may be linked to: Tasty Tuesday Link Party This Week's Cravings Hunk of Meat Monday Delectable Tuesday Totally Tasty Tuesday Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays Tasty Tuesdays Tuesdays at the Table Hearth and Soul Hop Tasty Tuesday Tuesday Night Supper Club Slightly Indulgent Tuesday Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday What's Cooking Wednesday What's for Dinner? Foodie Wednesday Real Food Wednesday What's On the Menu Wednesday What's Cooking Wednesday Full Plate Thursday Fun with Food Friday Tuesday Tantalizing Taste Sweets for a Saturday What's Cooking Wednesday What's on Your Plate? Recipes I Can't Wait to Try No Whine Wednesday Savory Sundays This Chick Cooks Simply Delish Saturdays Recipe Sharing Mondays Fat Camp Friday Whisking Wednesdays What's Cooking Wednesday Cooking Thursday It's a Keeper Ultimate Recipe Swap